Parachute pack



Dec. 14, 1937. H. LUNDHOLM 2,102,541

PARACHUTE PACK Filed Feb. 10, 1937 Patented Dec. 14, 1937 marten mm PATENT or ies .PARACHUTE PACK Carl Herman Lundholm, Stockholm, Sweden Application February 10, 1937, Serial No. 125,038 In Sweden May 7, 1936 9 Claims.

cable to be pulled by hand by the parachutistv which releasing means have each a separate locking pin or pins and in which a plurality of closing flaps are provided, e. g. two opposed main flaps and two opposed lateral flaps.

A parachute pack of this type is previously known in which at least three of the flaps, e. g. the two main flaps and at least one of the lateral flaps, are connected mainly at one point by a common loose locking member independent of the pack. In this known type of a parachute pack, the flaps are at their free ends provided with openings through which the common locking member is inserted, said locking member having preferably the form of an egg with holes at both of its ends through which holes the locking pins of the two releasing means are inserted. Thus in closed position of the pack the locking member forms substantially a right angle with the flap surface and, moreover, the locking pins are situated on difierent levels, viz the pin or pins of the one releasing means above and the pin or pins of the other releasing means below the surface of the pack flaps.

According to the present invention the said locking member in its entirety and all of the looking pins when the pack is in a closed position are situated mainly on the same level and on the outer surface of the pack. Thereby an easy inspection and control of all parts of both of the releasing means is ensured causing an increased safety of the function of the parachute.

A preferred embodiment of a parachute pack according to the invention is illustrated by way of example on the accompanying drawing in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved parachute pack, the static line being laid bare.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the two releasing means on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a member adapted to be fixed to a lateral flap to hold the loose locking member in position.

Fig. lis a side view of another embodiment of such a holding member.

Fig. 5 is a. plan view of Fig. 4.

Figs. 6 and 7 are plan views of different embodiments of a loose locking member.

Fig. 8 is a side view of a locking stud adapted to be fixed to a main flap.

Fig. 9 is a view of a loose locking member according to a preferred embodiment.

According to Fig. 1 reference numeral designates a main pack flap carrying the manual releasing mans, 2 lateral flaps and 3 another 5 main flap carrying the automatic releasing means. Each of the flaps is combined with one or more elastic members 59 which tend to pull the flap aside when one of the releasing means is actuated in the manner to be described. 3 10' is a cover folded over the automatic releasing means and 5 a similar cover for the manual'releasing means. i is a line adapted to actuate. the automatic releasing means, the so called static line, said line having at its free end a snap hook 8 for the fastening of the line'to the air craft. The line i is packed within a pocket on flap 3 and held in packed position therein by means of straps 2t, said pocket being adapted to be closed by a cover 2! (shown in unfolded 7 position in Fig. 1) having an opening it through which the line i protrudes. 9 is a cable for actuating the manual releasing means said cable being protected by a tube ll of rubber or the like and having at its free end a ring iii. At its other 2 end the static line i terminates in looking pins l3, and similar locking pins iii are provided at the end of the manually actuated pull cable 9. The end of the locking pins I3 is shown to be protected by a small cap it e. g. of leather fixed to the flap 3, and similar caps (not shown) may also be provided for the ends of the locking pins i6. Snap fasteners 6, serve to secure the covers 4, 5 and 25 in closed positions. I

Permanently secured at the end edge of the main flaps i, 3 are looking studs H, and likewise permanently secured at the end of each of the lateral flaps 2 is a holding member I5 fixed to the flap by a loop and having at its other end another loop I5 In closed position of the pack, the two main flaps i, 3 and each of the lateral flaps 2, 2 are connected by a common loose locking member i2 which has a loop of flexible material at each of itsends (see also Fig. 2). ,The locking members l2 engage .each the loop I5 of one of the holding members. i5 and have their loops i2 threaded over studs ll on the main flaps i, 3 in such a manner as to uncover a hole in the studs through which the locking pins 83 and i6, respectively, are inserted, thereby securing the locking members l2 and, consequently, the whole pack in closed position.

The function is as follows: i

In packed position of the parachute pack the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 1 except that the cover 2i is folded over the pocket for the static line I and secured in position by the snap fasteners 6, said line protruding through the opening M in said cover2l. 7

On automatic release the snap hook B of the static line i must be fastened toatheuaircraft.

When the parachutist jumps, the line I is drawn ut of its pocket through the opening i l under the action of the weight of the jumper; When the line I is fully pulled out and stretched, the

locking pins I3 are drawn out through the holes in the corresponding studs II causing the loops I2 of the locking members I2 previously, retained by said locking pins I3 to bedisengaged from said Under the action of the pressure of the studs. v packed parachute as well as of the elasticsI-il all of the flaps are pulled aside, the lateral flaps 2 being released by the locking members 12 sliding" through the loops I5 of the holding members it.

Then the parachute opens in usual manner.

The automatically actuated locking pins IS, in a; locked position of the pack, are held down by a small flap 22, whichat its one side is permanently fixed to the pack and at its other side is locked by a snap fastener. By means of, this device entanglement of the static line 'i with the automatic locking pins is avoided, whereby the said pins can be pulled out before'the' static line has been fully drawn out of its pocket. Such an eventuality might in turn result in the parachute opening at .too close proximity to the aircraft.

On manual release a pull is exerted in the cable 9 by the parachutist pulling. the ring ll. Thereby the locking pins It are disengaged from the corresponding studs ll causing opening of the flaps in the manner above described.

In order to secure a'qu'ick and reliable release it is of importance. that the loops I2? of the loose locking members l2 consist'of soft and flexible material. According to Fig. 9 the locking member l2 has the form of an endlessand seamless ring, consisting of thin metal wire, preferably formed in such manner that the wire is wound or twisted several times around the same wire or wires asab-ase, substantially in the same manner in which,

this reason the studsII should bedisposed near the border of the main flaps 'l 3 and at their top be as small as possible whereby the loops 12 can a be reduced correspondingly facilitating the passage of said loops. through the loops I5 of the holding members 55.; It is also of advantage that the studs I I'be shaped as'a cone having a. continuous smooth surface from its base to its top so as to exert no hindra-nces'to the loops l2 of the locking members I2 from sliding off the studs. According Y to Fig. 8 the stud I I is turnable by being mounted on a pin on a small disk H ,said pin engaging a hole in a washer I I which is provided with holes 23 by which the stud issewnonto.

In order further to facilitate the passage of the loops I2 of the locking members I2through the loops [5 01 theholding members l5fsaid latter loops should be madeof round smooth metalwire and be of sufiicient largeness. The holding member I5 may be formed as shown in Fig. 3 in which the loop I5 consists of a single wire, but to prevent deformation of the loop I5 by the pressure ofthe weight of the aviator sitting on the parachute pack the loop !5 consists preferably of a,

double wire which is bent inwardly as'shown in Figs. 4 and 5. 7

Instead of usingsolid locking studs I I it is possible to provide metal bordered openings at the corresponding places of the main flaps, in which case the loops 12 of the locking members I2 are inserted'through said openings. from below, the locking pins I 8 and I6 being then inserted into the protruding loops I2 -However,'a greater safety is ensured by forming the studs in the manner illustrated in the drawing.

Having now particularly described the invention and the manner in which the same may be performed, what I claim is: r V 1. A parachute pack, comprising a plurality of flaps, manually operable means including a looking pin to lock and release. the flaps, automatically operable means including another locking pin 7 to lock andrelease the flaps, either locking pin in locked position to the pack being. independent of and being operable withoutreleasably affecting the other, a loose locking member independent of the pack andadapted in combination with said locking pins to,connect at least three of the flaps substantially at one point, said locking member and said locking pins being situated, in closed position of the pack, on the outer surface thereof and substantially on the same level.

2. Aparachute pack, comprising'a plurality of flaps, manually operable means including alocking pin to lockrand release the flaps; automatically operable means including another locking pin to'lock and release. the flaps, either locking 'pin'in locked position to the pack being independent of and being operable without releasably affecting the other, a loose locking member independent of the pack and having two opposite loops adapted each to co-operate'with one of said locking pins, the locking member being adapted in'combination with said lock pins to connect at'least three of the flaps substantially at one point, said locking member and said looking pins being situated, in closed position of the pack, on the outer surface thereof and substantially on the same level.

'3. A parachute pack, comprising a plurality of flaps, manually operable means including a looking pin to lock and release the flaps, automatically. operable means including another locking pin to lock and release the flaps, either locking pin'in locked position to thepack being independent of and being'operable without'rele'asably affecting the other, a loose locking member -of flexible material independent'of the pack and adapted in combination with the locking; pins to connect. at least three of the flaps substantially at one point, said locking member and said looking pins being situated, in closed position of the pack, on the outer surface thereof and substantially on the same level.

4. A' parachute pack, comprising a pair of op posed main flaps and a pair of opposed lateral flaps, manually operable means including a looking member to lock and release theilaps, automatically operable meansincluding another lookingmember to lock and release the flaps, either locking pin in locked position to the pack being independent of and being operable without releasably afiecting the other, a loopshaped member secured to the end ofa lateral flap, a loose locking member independent of the pack and adapted in combination with said locking pins and said loop-shaped member to connect said main flaps and said lateral flap substantially at one point, said locking member and said locking pins being situated, in closed position of the pack, on the outer surface thereof and substantially on the same level.

5. A parachute pack, comprising a pair of opposed main flaps and a pair of opposed lateral flaps, manually operable means including a looking pin to lock and release the flaps, automatically operable means including another locking pin to lock and release the flaps, either locking pin in locked position to the pack being independent of and being operable without releasably affecting the other, a locking stud permanently secured to each of said main flaps and provided with a hole, a loop-shaped member secured to the end of a lateral flap, a loose locking member independent of the pack and having two opposed loops adapted each to be threaded over one of said studs and to be secured in position by the corresponding locking pin engaging the hole in said stud, said loop-shaped member engaging said loose locking member so as to cause the latter to connect the main flaps and said lateral flap substantially at one point.

6. A parachute pack according to claim 1, wherein the loose locking member consists of thin metal wire formed as a ring.

7. A parachute pack according to claim 1, wherein the loose locking member consists of thin metal wire formed as a ring in such manner that the wire is wound several times around the same wire as a base.

8. A parachute pack according to claim 4, wherein the loop-shaped member consists of rigid metal wire.

9. A parachute pack, comprising a pair of opposed main flaps and a pair of opposed lateral flaps, manually operable means including two locking pins to lock and release the flaps, automatically operable means including two other locking pins to lock and release the flaps, either locking pin in locked position to the pack being independent of and being operable without releasably aifecting the other, two locking studs permanently secured to each of said main flaps and having a hole therein, a loop-shaped member secured to the end of each of said lateral flaps, two loose locking members independent of the pack and having each two opposed loops, each of said loose locking members being connected with one of the loop-shaped members and with one of the studs of each main flap in such manner that it is threaded through the loop-shaped member and has its loops threaded over one of said studs, and is secured in position by one of the locking pins of the manual releasing means and the automatic releasing means, respectively, engaging the hole in the respective stud, each of said loose locking members thereby connecting the two main flaps and one of the lateral flaps and being controlled by both of said releasing means, the loose locking member upon the extraction of either category of locking pins gliding OK the corresponding studs at one end, whereby said ends pass through the loop-shaped members secured to the lateral flaps thereby permitting the pack to open and freethe parachute proper.

CARL HERMAN LUNDHOLM. 

